Memorial Day

As Americans, formal remembrance of our war dead sprung from the profound losses of our Civil War, with more than 600,000 servicemen lost. The first organized Memorial Day, then called "Decoration Day," was held May 1, 1865. On that day, communities in the North and the South honored fallen war heroes by closing businesses, flying flags at half staff and draping headstones in cemeteries with flowers in memory and recognition of those who fought and died.

From Korea and the Cold War to more recent conflicts in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya, the men and women of the U.S. European Command have fought around the globe during the command's 60-year history to protect the United States and her allies.

Well before EUCOM was ever established, U.S. servicemen and women fought and died in the European theater. In fact, more than 100,000 of them are buried on European soil and will be remembered at ceremonies hosted by the American Battle Monuments Commission at 20 American cemeteries located in France, Belgium, Italy, England, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. 

2012 European Location Ceremony Schedule:

Saturday, May 26

10 a.m. - Ardennes American Cemetery, Neuville en Condroz, Belgium
11 a.m. - Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, Paris, France
1 p.m. - Luxembourg American Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg
4 p.m. - Henri Chapelle American Cemetery, Aubel, Belgium

Sunday, May 27

9:45 a.m. - Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France
10 a.m. - Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France
10:30 a.m. - Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville Sur Mere, France
11 a.m. - Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France
2:30 p.m. - Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes, France
3 p.m. - Epinal American Cemetery, Dinoze, France
3 p.m. - Brookwood American Cemetery, Brookwood, England
3 p.m. - Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France
3 p.m. - Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne-Sous Montfaucon, France
3 p.m. - Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Seringes Et Nesles, France
3 p.m. - Flanders Field American Cemetery, Waregem, Belgium
3 p.m. - Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
4 p.m. - Brittany American Cemetery, Saint James, France
4 p.m. - Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiacourt, France
6:30 p.m. - Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

 

Monday, May 28

11 a.m. - Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy
11 a.m. - Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy
11 a.m. - Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England

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  • May 25, 2012

    Memorial Day: Honoring 60 Years of EUCOM Sacrifices that Kept our Nation Secure

    Memorial Day is a time of reflection for our nation – and especially for our service members – as we honor those who gave their lives so that others may live. However, this year’s Memorial Day is even more significant, as August 1, 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the inception of U.S. European Command (EUCOM).
  • June 2, 2011

    The Most Important Week for EUCOM

    Here we are in the middle of what I believe is the most important week of the year for U.S. European Command.  On one end, a long weekend recently completed in honor of Memorial Day.  On the other end of this important stretch of days - D-Day.
  • May 30, 2011

    On Duty Forever

    At the US flagpole in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial (Cambridge, England), the base is inscribed with the following quote from the famous poem "In Flanders Field": "TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS WE THROW THE TORCH -- BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH!"
  • May 29, 2011

    Memorial Day in Brittany: Finding our Family

    Last year my grandfather died on the anniversary of D-Day. Pop was never in the military, but his older brother Chester, was and he fought on the fields of France. He’s buried in Brittany and it is him who I choose to honor in this Memorial Day blog.
  • May 27, 2011

    The Words They Leave To Us

    I want to give voice to the men and women who have given their lives for this nation.
  • June 1, 2010

    A Memorial Day to Remember: On the Road to D-Day Anniversary

    I was deep in the heart of France yesterday during Memorial Day as I'm on my way to provide support for the events scheduled in commemoration of the 66th anniversary of D-Day. I left out from our U.S. European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and stopped at the halfway point on the way to the beaches of Normandy.
  • May 17, 2010

    Memorial Day: A path to service

    As Memorial Day approaches, and brings thoughts of sacrifice, it makes me wonder what leads people into the military. It varies for everyone, of course, but in many cases, it is the power of family and community that draws us into the military. Here is my story.
  • April 8, 2009

    Memorial Day

    This honor comes with my position at the U.S. European Command public Affairs office as the Chief of Community Relations. The unique aspect of my job is that my “community” is made up of the 51 countries and territories the command calls its area of responsibility.

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  • May 30, 2012

    The battle of Belleau Wood

    It was during WWI that the U.S. Marines put a their “stamp” on history. The battle of Belleau Wood, France was a costly one for the Marines. SGT Abigail Waldrop takes us to hallowed grounds for the Marine Corps with this story.
  • May 30, 2012

    Finally visiting Dad

    Thousands of people visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery every year. SrA Evan Mills takes us to the cemetery to meet one woman who’s visiting for a very personal reason.
  • May 30, 2012

    A chance to remember the fallen soldiers

    We all choose to remember fallen Soldiers in different ways. SGT Thomas Christensen went to Grafenwohr, Germany, to find out how a community decided to remember theirs.
  • May 28, 2012

    Memorial Day in Florence

    EUCOM Chief of Staff Maj Gen Mark Barrett discusses the importance of remembering Memorial Day with our European allies after the ceremony at Florence American Cemetery May 28, 2012.
  • May 28, 2012

    Bag Pipes at Somme American Cemetery

    American Soldiers served in the Somme sector of the frontlines in France during World War I, alongside British, Canadian, Australian, Belgian and French forces. The Somme American Military Cemetery, near Bony, France, is the final resting place for more than 1,800 U.S. Soldiers. On May 27, 2012, troops from U.S. European Command, to include keynote speak Rear Admiral John Messerschmidt, U.S. Army Soldiers from the 5th Signal Theater Strategic Command and the Shape International Band, took part in a Memorial Day ceremony.
  • May 25, 2012

    Tech Sgt. Brian Hoffman, EUCOM honor guard

    A 19-year U.S. Air Force veteran, Tech Sgt. Brian Hoffman, an intelligence analyst at U.S. European Command explain how volunteer EUCOM service members make up honor guards for Memorial Day events overseas.
  • May 22, 2012

    A cemetery in Margraten

    When a service member dies overseas it’s tradition to bring the body back to the home front. But, during WWII that wasn’t always an option. Many troops are laid to rest in American cemeteries throughout Europe. SGT Joshua Blair tells us how service members are cared for here at the American cemetery in Margraten, Natherlands.
  • May 22, 2012

    The Henri-Chapelle Cemetery

    Several American service members have paid the ultimate sacrifice...many being laid to rest in American cemeteries throughout Europe. A1C Benjamin Landon tells us about one cemetery that remembers these fallen heroes.
  • June 7, 2010

    Admiral Stavridis' speech "The Words They Leave To Us" .

    Admiral Stavridis' speech "The Words They Leave To Us" .